BBP’s Squibb Park Bridge Progresses

By on December 5, 2012 9:07 pm in brooklyn bridge park, Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Borough Prez Marty Markowitz offered a walk-through of Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Squibb Park Bridge progress Wednesday, which will connect Brooklyn Height via Squibb Park to BBP. Spans are set to go beginning December 14. Gothamist—which offers lots of pics—spoke with chief engineer and bridge designer Ted Zoli (of HNTB Corp.), who described the bridge’s lightweight design, which will give it a… uh… “fun little bounce to those walking across it.” Safety guards/handrails stand 42″ with uninterrupted views.

Paving the Squibb pathway. (BHB Reader photo by Rick Elkins)

Our Sen. Daniel Squadron notes, “The placement of the bridge just two blocks from Brooklyn Heights Promenade is important psychologically. It says to everyone who comes to the Promenade (that) Brooklyn Bridge Park is yours, too.” More here and here, while the New York Daily News offers its take here.

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  • Derek

    This project is the most egregious waste of money at a time when there are many far more deserving projects all over the city. What’s wrong with the pavement *right next* to the new bridge that leads directly down to the park entrance?

    The quote from Sen. Daniel Squadron is ridiculous. You’d swear the park / promenade were separated by a mighty chasm rather than a safe, well kept pavement the community already uses.

    BBP is fast cementing its image as the most elite public space in the five boroughs and this vanity project for the gilded minority exacerbates this.

    Derek

  • Andrew Porter

    Caption “paving the Squibb Bridge” is actually the pathway down into Squibb Park. Installation will take only 2 days, starting on the 14th, ending on Saturday.

  • David on Middagh

    The Daily News gives completely the wrong impression. Isn’t this a combined handicap access ramp and “scenic route / viewing platform”?

    This bridge can’t fairly be called “an express route” or “faster access”, when trotting down the “Suicide Hill” stretch of sidewalk on Columbia Heights is already on offer. Well, unless you’re held up waiting for traffic on Furman St. at the bottom. The bridge will indeed overpass that little hitch.

  • Boerum Bill

    At least you don’t need a key like Gramercy Park.

  • Gerry

    We are glad the bridge is at the other end of the Promenade.

  • Hicks on Hicks

    There seems to be a level of “dishonesty” with respect to the purpose of the Squibb Bridge. Faster park access, disabled access and impressive views don’t seem to be compelling reasons for this multi-million $ bridge. As noted earlier, walking down the hill is plenty fast, there aren’t any steps impeding wheelchair access and we already have superlative views. It seems to me that the true purpose of this park link is to provide convenient subway access to hotel and condo residents residing in the to-be-built in-park buildings.

    I don’t begrudge the city for building this access for the new residents as it is their buildings that are paying for the maintenance of this park. My issue is with the lack of transparency as to the true reasons for this investment.

  • GHB

    If I had a wheelchair, I wouldn’t go near Suicide Hill. And not everyone can navigate that steep hill on foot. And Gerry, we’re glad that you’re at the other end of the Promenade!

  • beurend

    How on earth could this bridge be a bad idea? As a healthy young person, it doesn’t take much imagination for me to see how difficult the current access could be for… anyone. The bridge will be lovely. Yes, it costs money, like any other public amenity. The Promenade cost money. BBP itself cost money. Better access for the hotels and condos? Great! Why wouldn’t we want that?

    In the scope of public works, I’d hardly spend a lot of time worrying about this tiny bridge with a great view.

  • Hicks on Hicks

    The bridge cost is $4.9 million. The bridge doesn’t hurt or offend me, but there doesn’t seem to have been a strong case made to spend such a sum of money for redundant access to the park. This money needs to come from somewhere so its not about “the bridge is a bad idea”, its about choices. What are we giving up to get this bridge? How much would be too much for this bridge? I live in the neighborhood and frequently use the park. I may use the bridge but I wouldn’t have paid $5 large for it.

  • gfgfgfg

    In the scope of a municipal budget, $5 million for a piece of infrastructure is simply nothing.

  • Gerry

    @ GHB we feel that your comment is rude and fortunate that we live at the other end of Brooklyn Heights away from you and Squibb Park

  • Mr. Crusty

    One could always make an argument that the money for a particular project could be better spent on something more important. It’s really not an argument that I put much weight in. It’s not as if the money would go to feed the poor, or some other worthy cause, if the bridge wasn’t built.. That is just not how it works.

    Lets assume the bridge is around for the next 20 years – that $5M capital expense comes to about $20K a month. I do not think that is unreasonable for the City of New York. I am looking forward to it’s completion.

  • MonroeOrange

    Suicide Hill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • David on Middagh

    A couple of basic questions: Why is the Squibb pathway being asphalted? Does asphalt provide more traction than concrete?

    And why do I wish there were a mini-overpass for that pathway?

  • Knight

    @Gerry: what’s with the “we”?

  • Mr. Crusty

    @Knight “Gerry: what’s with the “we”?”

    Gerry and his best friend, an invisible 6′ rat named Harvey?

    I hope they both show up at Vineapple tonight!

  • GHB

    Crusty, do you really want that? He might kick you in the crusticles.

  • ABC

    The one thing I don’t get about this is that the back and forth of the design makes me think the route down suicide hill is actually fewer steps/shorter.

    The one thing I do get about this is that it’s a city-funded project that’s being done as a favor for a privately owned hotel that will be built at the foot of this bridge

  • Mr. Crusty

    @ABC well if the bridge/path are going to be less steep than suicide hill it would necessarily have to be longer. That’s math.

    I don’t think the bridge is done just to favor the hotel, it is providing access to BBP from Brooklyn Heights and for those that may take the subway.

  • gatornyc

    “It seems to me that the true purpose of this park link is to provide convenient subway access to hotel and condo residents residing in the to-be-built in-park buildings.”

    It stands to reason that if the bridge will provide convenient subway access to the hotel and condo residents, then it also will provide convenient subway access to the multitude of NYC residents to the Park. Why must we always look at everything with such skepticism and lack of perspective?

  • Cranberry Beret

    Agree with gator. Does anyone complain the the 72nd St entrance to central park is pandering to residents of the Dakota?

    Don’t understand the big hate for this little bridge. Historically there were several access points down from the Heights to Furman Street and the waterfront (without going to either end of the neighborhood); this bridge restores one of them.

    Look at the map on the BBP website. The bridge shortens the distance from someone standing at Columbia Heights/Middagh to enter the park (at the Pier 1 ferry). More importantly, it lets someone enter closer to Pier 2 and the central portion of the park. If you’re going to the ferry, you can pick between walking down the hill or the bridge, but if you’re going to Piers 2,3, you’re definitely going to want to take the bridge.

  • WillowNabe

    Cranberry,
    No one hates the little bridge. It’s the $5 million price tag that is the issue for some.

  • http://julianhsiung.com Julian

    These politicains are just different kind of pimp. Waste more tax payer’s $. They seem forget to mention eventually how convient it will bring to the residents and tourtists to the building in the park!
    Pigs, pigs.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Julien you comment doesn’t even make any sense. One would have thought that you have been in this country long enough to be able to write simple sentences that make sense. Apparently not.

    And who the f___ are you to be calling people “pigs” and “pimps” because you disagree with a decision they may have made? People like you disgust me. So morally superior that you can so easily pronounce others pimps and pigs? Why did you even come to this country if our politicians are so horrible? You could have stayed in Taiwan, trust me it would have been no great loss here.

  • http://julianhsiung.com Julian

    Thank god this is free country and If you don’t like my comments so don’t read it then.

    And who the f___ are you? So judgemental yourself I see,Ms Crusty! People like you disgust me too!